YOUNG ENGLAND - what is then become of Old Of dear Old England? Think they she is dead, Dead to the very name? Presumption fed Os empty air! That name will keep its hold In the true filial bosom's inmost fold
For ever. The Spirit of Alfred, at the head Of all who for her rights watched, toiled and bled, Kows that this prophecy is not too bold. What-how! shall she submit in will and deed To beardless boys-an imitative race, The servum pecus of a Gallic breed?
Dear Mother! if thou must thy steps retrace, Go where at least meek innocency dwells; Let babes and sucklings be thy oracles.
FEEL for the wrongs to universal ken Daily exposed, woe that unshrouded lies; And seek the sufferer in his darkest den, Whether conducted to the spot by sighs And moanings, or he dwells (as if the wren Taught him concealment) hidden from all eyes In silence and the awful modesties
Of sorrow; -feel for all, as brother men! Rest not in hope want's icy chain to thaw By casual boons and formal charities; Learn to be just, just through impartial law; Far as ye may, erect and equalise; And, what ye cannot reach by statute, draw Each from his fountain of self-sacrifice!
SONNETS UPON THE PUNISHMENT OF DEATH. IN SERIES.*
YGGESTED BY THE VIEW OF LANCASTER CASTLE
(ON THE ROAD FROM THE SOUTH.)
TRIs spot at once unfolding sight so fair
sea and land, with yon grey towers that still
A-e up as if to lord it over air
git soothe in human breasts the sense of ill, arm it out of memory; yea, might fill beart with joy and gratitude to God all his bounties upon man bestowed: Why bears it then the name of "Weeping Hill?" sands, as toward yon old Lancastrian Towers, n's crown, along this way they past regering durance or quick death with shame, in this bare eminence thereon have cast Tez first look-blinded as tears fell in showers
on their chains; and hence that doleful name.
TODELY do we feel by Nature's law Frwarst offenders: though the heart will heave
gnation, deeply moved we grieve,
far thenght, for him who stood in awe Nether of God nor man, and only saw, twretch, a horrible device enthroned
od temptations, till the victim groaned der the steel his hand had dared to draw. B. O, restrain compassion, if its course, 1.4 befals, prevent or turn aside
47ents and aims and acts whose higher source - "apathy with the unforewarned, who died
| Blameless - with them that shuddered o'er his grave, And all who from the law firm safety crave.
*** an excelent commentary on this series of Poems, Berry Tavior, Esq., author of Philip Van Artaetc., at the close of a Critical Essay from his pen, i appeared in the Quarterly Review for December, 4. No. 137. p. 39.-H. R.)
THE Roman Consul doomed his sons to die Who had betrayed their country. The stern word Afforded (may it through all time afford) A theme for praise and admiration high. Upon the surface of humanity
He rested not; its depths his mind explored; He felt; but his parental bosom's lord Was duty, -duty calmed his agony. And some, we know, when they by wilful act A single human life have wrongly taken, Pass sentence on themselves, confess the fact, And, to atone for it, with soul unshaken Kneel at the feet of Justice, and for faith Broken with all mankind, solicit death.
Is Death, when evil against good has fought With such fell mastery that a man may dare By deeds the blackest purpose to lay bare? Is Death, for one to that condition brought, For him or any one, the thing that ought To be most dreaded? Lawgivers, beware, Lest capital pains remitting till ye spare The murderer, ye, by sanction to that thought Seemingly given, debase the general mind; Tempt the vague will tried standards to disown, Nor only palpable restraints unbind, But upon Honour's head disturb the crown, Whose absolute rule permits not to withstand In the weak love of life his least command.
Nor to the object specially designed, Howe'er momentous in itself it be, Good to promote or curb depravity,
Is the wise Legislator's view confined.
His Spirit, when most severe, is oft most kind; As all Authority in earth depends
On Love and Fear, their several powers he blends, Copying with awe the one Paternal mind. Uncaught by processes in show humane, He feels how far the act would derogate From even the humblest functions of the State; If she, self-shorn of Majesty, ordain
That never more shall hang upon her breath The last alternative of Life or Death.
YE brood of conscience Spectres! that frequent The bad Man's restless walk, and haunt his bed - Fiends in your aspect, yet beneficent In act, as hovering Angels when they spread Their wings to guard the unconscious Innocent- Slow be the Statutes of the land to share A laxity that could not but impair
Your power to punish crime, and so prevent. And ye, Beliefs! coiled serpent-like about The adage on all tongues, "Murder will out," How shall your ancient warnings work for good In the full might they hitherto have shown, If for deliberate shedder of man's blood Survive not Judgment that requires his own?
BEFORE the world had past her time of youth While polity and discipline were weak, The precept eye for eye, and tooth for tooth, Came forth- -a light, though but as of day-break, Strong as could then be borne. A Master meek Proscribed the spirit fostered by that rule, Patience his law, long-suffering his school,
And love the end, which all through peace must seek. But lamentably do they err who strain His mandates, given rash impulse to controul And keep vindictive thirstings from the soul, So far that, if consistent in their scheme, They must forbid the State to inflict a pain, Making of social order a mere dream.
FIT retribution, by the moral code Determined, lies beyond the State's embrace, Yet, as she may, for each peculiar case She plants well-measured terrors in the road
Of wrongful acts. Downward it is and broad, And, the main fear once doomed to banishment, Far oftener then, bad ushering worse event, Blood would be spilt that in his dark abode Crime might lie better hid. And, should the chan Take from the horror due to a foul deed, Pursuit and evidence so far must fail, And, guilt escaping, passion then might plead In angry spirits for her old free range, And the "wild justice of revenge" prevail.
THOUGH to give timely warning and deter Is one great aim of penalty, extend Thy mental vision further and ascend Far higher, else full surely shalt thou err. What is a State? The wise behold in her A creature born of time, that keeps one eye Fixed on the statutes of Eternity,
To which her judgments reverently defer. Speaking through Law's dispassionate voice the Sta Endues her conscience with external life And being, to preclude or quell the strife Of individual will, to elevate
The grovelling mind, the erring to recal, And fortify the moral sense of all.
OUR bodily life, some plead, that life the shrine Of an immortal spirit is a gift
So sacred, so informed with light divine, That no tribunal, though most wise to sift Deed and intent, should turn the being adrift Into that world where penitential tear May not avail, nor prayer have for God's ear A voice that world whose veil no hand can lift For earthly sight. "Eternity and Time" They urge, "have interwoven claims and rights Not to be jeopardised through foulest crime: The sentence rule by mercy's heaven-born lights." Even so; but measuring not by finite sense Infinite Power, perfect Intelligence.
AH, think how one compelled for life to abide Locked in a dungeon needs must eat the heart Out of his own humanity, and part With every hope that mutual cares provide; And, should a less unnatural doom confide In life-long exile on a savage coast, Soon the relapsing penitent may boast Of yet more heinous guilt, with fiercer pride.
Hence thoughtful Mercy, Mercy sage and pure,
They know the dread requital's source profound;
actions the forfeiture that Law demands,
Iving the final issue in His hands
Nor is, they feel, its wisdom obsolete (Would that it were!) the sacrifice unmeet
Vse goodness knows no change, whose love is sure, For Christian Faith. But hopeful signs abound;
MEMORIALS OF A TOUR ON THE CONTINENT, 1820.
DEAR Fellow-travellers! think not that the Muse Presents to notice these memorial Lays, Hoping the general eye thereon will gaze, As on a mirror that gives back the hues
Of living Nature; no-though free to choose The greenest bowers, the most inviting ways, The fairest landscapes and the brightest days, Her skill she tried with less ambitious views. For You she wrought; ye only can supply The life, the truth, the beauty: she confides In that enjoyment which with you abides, Trusts to your love and vivid memory; Thus far contented, that for You her verse Shall lack not power the "meeting soul to pierce!" W. WORDSWORTH. RYDAL MOUNT, January, 1822.
FISH-WOMEN.-ON LANDING AT CALAIS.
'Tis said, fantastic Ocean doth enfold The likeness of whate'er on Land is seen; But, if the Nereid Sisters and their Queen, Above whose heads the Tide so long hath rolled, The Dames resemble whom we here behold, How terrible beneath the opening waves To sink, and meet them in their fretted caves, Withered, grotesque-immeasurably old, And shrill and fierce in accent! - Fear it not; For they Earth's fairest Daughters do excel; Pure undecaying beauty is their lot; Their voices into liquid music swell, Thrilling each pearly cleft and sparry grot — The undisturbed Abodes where Sea-nymphs dwell!
BRUGES I saw attired with golden light (Streamed from the west) as with a robe of power: 'Tis past and now the grave and sunless hour, That, slowly making way for peaceful night, Best suits with fallen grandeur, to my sight
Offers the beauty, the magnificence, And all the graces, left her for defence Against the injuries of Time, the spite Of Fortune, and the desolating storms of future War. Advance not-spare to hide, O gentle Power of Darkness! these mild hues; Obscure not yet these silent avenues Of stateliest Architecture, where the forms Of Nun-like Females, with soft motion, glide!
THE Spirit of Antiquity — enshrined In sumptuous Buildings, vocal in sweet Song, In Picture, speaking with heroic tongue, And with devout solemnities entwined Strikes to the seat of grace within the mind: Hence Forms that glide with swan-like ease along; Hence motions, even amid the vulgar throng, To an harmonious decency confined; As if the Streets were consecrated ground, The City one vast Temple-dedicate To mutual respect in thought and deed; To leisure, to forbearances sedate; To social cares from jarring passions freed; A nobler peace than that in deserts found!
AFTER VISITING THE FIELD OF WATERLOO, A WINGED Goddess, clothed in vesture wrought Of rainbow colours; one whose port was bold, Whose overburthened hand could scarcely hold The glittering crowns and garlands which it brought Hovered in air above the far-famed Spot. She vanished—leaving prospect blank and cold Of wind-swept corn that wide around us rolled In dreary billows, wood, and meagre cot, And monuments that soon must disappear: Yet a dread local recompense we found; While glory seemed betrayed, while patriot zes Sank in our hearts, we felt as Men should feel With such vast hoards of hidden carnage near And horror breathing from the silent ground!
SCENERY BETWEEN NAMUR AND LIEGE. Taur lovelier home could gentle Fancy choose?
the Stream, whose cities, heights, and plains, War's favourite playground, are with crimson stains mar, as the Morn with pearly dews? The Morn, that now, along the silver MEUSE, ading her peaceful ensigns, calls the Swains Tead their silent boats and ringing wains, e strip the bough whose mellow fruit bestrews The rpening corn beneath it. As mine eyes Ts from the fortified and threatening hill, I: sweet the prospect of yon watery glade, Wits gray rocks clustering in pensive shade, Tu, shaped like old monastic turrets, rise
Frm the smooth meadow-ground, serene and still!
And splendid aspect yon emblazonings Betantly picture, 't were an office meet
**Let a wall of rocks be imagined from three to six hundred bght, and rising between France and Spain, so as phyBy separate the two kingdoms-let us fancy this wall erved like a crescent, with its convexity towards France. Lady let us suppose, that in the very middle of the wall, a ach of 300 feet wide has been beaten down by the famous and we may have a good idea of what the mountaineers BRECHE DE ROLAND.'"
FOR THE BOATMEN, AS THEY APPROACH THE RAPIDS UNDER THE CASTLE OF heidelburg.
JESU! bless our slender Boat,
By the current swept along; Loud its threatenings-let them not Drown the music of a Song Breathed thy mercy to implore, Where these troubled waters roar! Saviour, in thy image, seen
Bleeding on that precious Rood; If, while through the meadows green Gently wound the peaceful flood, We forgot Thee, do not Thou Disregard thy Suppliants now! Hither, like yon ancient Tower
Watching o'er the River's bed, Fling the shadow of thy power,
Else we sleep among the Dead; Thou who trodd'st the billowy Sea, Shield us in our jeopardy!
Guide our Bark among the waves;
Through the rocks our passage smooth; Where the whirlpool frets and raves
Let thy love its anger soothe: All our hope is placed in Thee; Miserere Domine !*
*See the beautiful Song in Mr. Coleridge's Tragedy, "THE REMORSE." Why is the Harp of Quantock silent?
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